Broncos have legit backup longsnapper in Joel Dreessen

The Broncos will not likely endure the same longsnapping debacle that all but paralyzed the Oakland Raiders on Monday night.

Broncos starting tight end Joel Dreessen was both the starting tight end and longsnapper for the Houston Texans in 2009.

“That was a tiring year,” Dreessen said. “But I wasn’t complaining.”

The Raiders lost their Pro Bowl longsnapper Jon Condo to a head injury in their game Monday against the San Diego Chargers and was replaced by Travis Goethel, who had not longsnapped since high school.

Goethel is unlikely to ever long snap again. He dribbled snaps back to punter Shane Lechler, who didn’t exactly demonstrate poise or good hands in fielding the grounders. And on Goethel’s best snap, Charger and former Bronco tight end Dante Rosario blocked a punt deep in Raiders’ territory.

Should the Broncos lose Aaron Brewer for a couple long snaps, they have an experienced back up in Dreessen.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.